Politics

• Thursday, March 21st 2019 - 09:40 UTC

  Fed confirms it does not expect to raise interest rates in 2019

  

  The US Federal Reserve does not expect to raise interest rates for the rest of 2019 amid slower economic growth. After a two-day meeting, monetary policymakers voted unanimously to keep the US interest rate range between 2.25%-2.5%.

• Thursday, March 21st 2019 - 09:36 UTC

  Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay re-launch bid for 2030 World Cup

  

  Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay re-launched their bid to host the 2030 World Cup following a meeting of their presidents in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. The four national presidents committed to creating a local organizing committee with a representative from each country to coordinate with CONMEBOL, South American football's governing body.

• Thursday, March 21st 2019 - 09:20 UTC

  US markets drop following on Trump's remarks about trade talks with China

  

  US stocks have fallen after President Donald Trump said his administration was considering leaving tariffs on China for a “substantial period”. Mr. Trump said that a trade deal with Beijing was “coming along nicely”, but his comments dampened hopes a deal would be reached soon. US negotiators are due to visit China next week to resume talks.

• Thursday, March 21st 2019 - 09:00 UTC

  Digital sex crime epidemic in South Korea; secret filming of some 1.600 hotel rooms

  

  Four men have been arrested in South Korea, accused of secretly filming 1,600 hotel room guests and selling the footage via a website. Mini-cameras were installed in TVs, hair-dryer holders and sockets. The men allegedly earned US$ 6,200.

• Thursday, March 21st 2019 - 07:38 UTC

  Venezuela: UN human rights report confirms massive abuses and killings by government forces

  

  The U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, warns political divisions in Venezuela are worsening an already critical human right and humanitarian situation in the country. In a report presented to the U.N. Human Rights Council, Bachelet urged the dissenting factions to resolve their political differences.

• Thursday, March 21st 2019 - 06:41 UTC

  Bolsonaro's aura and approval ratings rapidly fading

  

  Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's approval rating plunged in March, a poll showed Wednesday, after a series of political scandals tarnished his anti-corruption image.

• Thursday, March 21st 2019 - 06:30 UTC

  Mercosur farmers protest Bolsonaro's decision to allow US wheat imports free of tariffs

  

  Farmers in Brazil and Argentina are concerned about Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's agreement to import 750,000 tons of wheat from the United States and other countries outside the Mercosur trade bloc without the 10% tariff that is usually required for such purchases.

• Wednesday, March 20th 2019 - 21:55 UTC

  Falklands launches procurement process and issues tender for a new port facility

  

  The Falkland Islands Executive Council on Wednesday approved a formal procurement process to issue an Invitation to Tender (ITT) to the global construction market to select and appoint a preferred development partner for the design, construction and potentially the operation of a new port facility. The tender will also invite bidders to submit funding options.

• Wednesday, March 20th 2019 - 21:13 UTC

  President of Uruguay criticizes Prosur for “generating another integration with ideological purpose”

  

  Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez questioned on Thursday the Colombian-Chilean initiative to create a new integration bloc to replace the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and argued that the region has a number of integration processes that collide and they become inefficient.

• Wednesday, March 20th 2019 - 17:13 UTC

  Renew political commitment at the South-South Cooperation summit in Buenos Aires

  

  The member states of the South-South Cooperation Plan will meet in Buenos Aires from March 20 to 23 to launch a new strategy with a view to implementing the UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 within the framework of the Second High-Level Conference of United Nations on South-South Cooperation, PABA +40. The event will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the approval of the Buenos Aires Action Plan and awaits a “renewed political commitment” from participating States.